St Peter’s Health Centre is delighted to start offering free Fibroscan liver checks to our patients . This is an NHS England funded project which aims to improve early detection of liver cancer to help achieve the Long Term Plan ambition for 75% of all cancers to be diagnosed at an early stage by 2028
Liver disease is a leading and rising cause of death and is responsible for thousands of premature, largely preventable deaths each year. Standardised mortality rates for liver disease have increased 400% since 1970, and 75% of alcohol related deaths are due to Alcohol Related Liver Disease. Liver disease is frequently silent until the later stages
Using Fibroscans we can identify people early in primary care who need further assessment or monitoring and provide early intervention to reduce liver disease progression, complications and deaths.
We are inviting people in the following groups to come and have a scan at the practice
· People aged 18-75 who drink more than 35 units of alcohol a week
· People aged 18-75 with Type 2 diabetes and a body mass index of over 30kgm2 (BMI of 27 if you are from a Black or Asian background)
People aged over 50 with a fatty liver (metabolic associated steatotic liver disease)
The scans will be done by specialist nurses from the hospital – they are quick and painless and do not need any needles . You can see a video of someone having a scan here https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bb8r8qbRVnQ
The project has already been running in Hove, and a patient at a practice there wrote a really useful description of their experience
As I sat in the waiting room staring at a sign that said ‘free liver health check’ for people drinking over the recommended alcohol limits, I knew that I needed to book an appointment. It didn’t fill me with joy, and I was nervous; mostly fear of judgement at something that in theory I could easily change without help.
The liver nurse was very kind, compassionate and non-judgemental. As a result, I was able to share with her that my drinking behaviours changed in Covid and had never really got back to normal. She performed the scan there and then. There was no pain, and it was quick. To my surprise she was also able to give me my results there and then. She told me that I had a Fatty Liver and talked me through what that meant. It was powerful and assuring to do that in the room, as previously I’ve only ever received a faceless message for tests. I felt some shock but I was assured by the Nurse’s helpful advice and information and the fact that for me the condition was reversible with a change in lifestyle. She offered follow up advice and support, all in a non-judgemental and compassionate manner.
Since that time, I’ve done further research myself and most importantly changed my drinking behaviour. I don’t believe I would have the commitment and motivation to do so without having had the opportunity for a check which has given me every reason to act now while I can before the condition becomes worse and potentially irreversible.
On reflection I feel very lucky to have had the appointment and to have had the chance to prevent further ill health. I recommend anyone who may be concerned to book an appointment, its pain free, quick, non-judgemental and importantly lifesaving. I’m looking forward to making the most of the chance to live well.
